Nexus 7 vs. Kindle Fire HD display shoot-out: Did Google goof up?

When Google launched the Nexus 7 earlier this summer, it was trumpeted for its best-in-class 7-inch 1280×800 IPS LCD display. It packed all the HD punch that we are used to getting in 10-inch tablets into a tiny, handholdable package. Sales took off accordingly. Now Amazon has updated its very popular Kindle Fire 7-incher with an HD display, looking to top Google as the best way to consume content in the palm of your hand.

With the competition heating up, DisplayMate has just completed an exhaustive comparison of the displays on these two tablets. The results hold some surprises for those owning, or looking to buy, a 7-inch model.

As you’d expect, the displays both receive much higher marks than the older screen found in the first-generation Kindle Fire, and both get very high marks for overall sharpness. The new Kindle Fire HD 7-inch display even scored above the more expensive iPad 2. These findings are tempered by the unsurprising note that neither can go head-to-head with the Retina display in the new iPad.

Sharpness and color

At 216 PPI the Fire HD and Nexus 7 both get high marks for resolution, with DisplayMate pointing out that 15.9 inches (40cm) is the “Retina display” distance for both. In other words, if you’re 16 inches or more from the device, you probably can’t see individual pixels. Both tablets can render 86% of the sRGB color gamut — an improvement over almost every tablet on the market, except the new iPad. Aside from the Nexus 7 having slightly more saturated reds, and the Fire HD doing a little better on greens and yellows, DisplayMate calls the displays themselves pretty much a toss-up. Both tablets also get high marks for low reflectance.

When it comes to color calibration, however, it seems Google may have made an almighty goof.

Does Google deserve to get taken out to the woodshed?

DisplayMate’s President, Dr. Soneira, goes out of his way to criticize Google’s handling of the display panel on the Nexus 7. Describing its factory calibration as “incompetent” and “messed up”, he goes on to suggest that those who care about image quality “might want to skip the Google Nexus 7.” The DisplayMate shoot-out highlights additional criticisms, especially for Google’s choice of green primary for the display. You can read the entire report, in addition to the comparison to the new iPad, for yourself.

Since laboratory testing doesn’t always equate to actual, real life performance, I was naturally inclined to see for myself exactly how visible the problems are in an everyday setting.

First, to get a sense for whether bright, colorful images looked washed out as mentioned in the shoot out, I set up a calibrated HP LCD monitor, an Apple iPad 2, and a Google Nexus 7, all displaying the same photo of vividly-colored Grand Prismatic Basin in Yellowstone. While I preferred the HP image — which was to be expected — I didn’t see much to choose between the iPad 2 or the Nexus 7, with both of them being a bit washed out by comparison. However, I considered the Nexus 7 version to be acceptable for casual viewing or sharing. So while I’m sure DisplayMate’s numbers are right on this one, it wasn’t a show-stopper for me — unless I needed to use the tablet to showcase a professional portfolio.

Soneira also points out that Google’s green primary choice is not sufficiently saturated. Setting up another test image, this time with some deep green areas, I definitely saw the problem. While there wasn’t anything unpleasant about the Nexus 7 version, it literally paled by comparison to the same image on an iPad 2 and the HP monitor.

Purists will note that my photos weren’t captured in a carefully-controlled environment. That’s intentional, since most image sharing on tablets isn’t done in light booths. The good news for Nexus 7 owners is that calibration can be fixed in software (through an updated ROM), so there is hope that the Nexus 7 display will eventually live up to its full potential.

Which tablet should you buy?

The bottom line from the DisplayMate report reinforces Amazon’s excellence at producing pure content delivery devices. For anyone looking at getting the best audio, video, and photo experience for $200, the Kindle Fire HD is the clear choice. None of that changes the fact that the Kindle is a locked-down, forked, muted version of Android, so if you want maximum flexibility in a $200 tablet, the Google Nexus 7 is still the best option, even if you have to live with some display issues.

Tagged In

Is there a tablet comparison that focuses on ability to replicate a desktop computer? A replacement for a laptop? External keyboard, USB ports, speaker/headphone outputs, applications? I want to do more than read stuff on the internet or listen to music. If I get an Android device, am I getting access to all of the applications in the Android store?

Well … you can still download apps from the Android store and side-load them into the Kindle Fire, i was told. Almost all would work.

http://pulse.yahoo.com/_EKNZKJ5LBTYYEUH4NCSPTGFGGE Eric

That depends on if you can gain root access…
If you don’t know what that means you probably should stick with a laptop or full sized tablet PC (be it an Ipad or Windows based tablet)

As far as the Play Store, that depends on who makes the tablet you are looking at.

It varied by make and model.

elcosaseria

Yes, my mother is screaming for root access in her tablet.

JC

I considered the Kindle HD, & the Nexus 7 but then found another new model that actually has better features than both – and it’s only $189 – the Novo 7 Flame by Ainol Electronics… and you can buy it in the United States through TabletSprintCom – it has 16GB and includes the same type of high quality screen, a Micro-SD slot, Full HDMI 1080p HD (the Kindle only offers 720p) and two cameras – a 2 MegaPixel front Webcam and a high quality 5 MegaPixel rear cam for Photos/Video with Auto Focus & Flash – it also offers an option for 3G

http://www.cardinalphoto.com David Cardinal

JC — Have you gotten the Novo yet? Let us know how you like it. There are so many “unheard-of” tablets out there that it is hard to keep track and sort out which ones are really a good value and which are just inexpensive. The specs on the Novo certainly sound promising.

MACoBe

The Ainol Flame, in paper specs and the value for price, it’s a great device or maybe one of the best ones. The only problem it’s Ainol itself not resolving the firmware issues… It’s taking to long for bugs to be purged…

The Digital Software Store

As in SD/HD is there a limit our eyesight stops seeing any real difference between these displays ?

jescott418

I cannot imagine anyone really concerned about image quality to rely on a $200 tablet? That said I have already sold my Nexus 7 because it simply was too small and many of the Apps are still not tablet ready. I had many crashes and Google’s ecosystem is a bit pieced together in my opinion. That’s most likely where the Kindle can do better. It has a decent ecosystem so if you like Amazon I can’t imagine you would not like the Kindle Fire.

mahmoud

I don’t know about you but I have all 3 the nexus the kindle HD and the I pad 3 I see that the size chose of the pack is the nexus it has any thing you need with an affordile price if you ask me don’t get the kindle or the I pad you won’t be satisfied

mahmoud

I don’t know about you but I have all 3 the nexus the kindle HD and the I pad 3 I see that the size chose of the pack is the nexus it has any thing you need with an affordile price if you ask me don’t get the kindle or the I pad you won’t be satisfied

http://twitter.com/joeytad2010 JBT

If you can root the Kindle Fire HD7 to use the Android marketplace then it should have a slight advantage over the Nexus7. I do prefer the Nexus form factor though and the internals. I really think that Amazon is doing itself a disservice (in sales) by not having the Android marketplace readily available on the Fire.

http://www.cardinalphoto.com David Cardinal

It is a pretty disturbing trend that more and more devices are tied to particular ecosystems. Imagine going to the store to buy a TV and having a choice of the NBC, ABC, or Fox versions — each of which only received that company’s channels.

ExtremeTech Newsletter

Subscribe Today to get the latest ExtremeTech news delivered right to your inbox.

Use of this site is governed by our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. Copyright 1996-2016 Ziff Davis, LLC.PCMag Digital Group All Rights Reserved. ExtremeTech is a registered trademark of Ziff Davis, LLC. Reproduction in whole or in part in any form or medium without express written permission of Ziff Davis, LLC. is prohibited.